Thai news in brief – January 7
It is again cake and egg between the government and the Bank of Thailand (Bone).
Thanks to some minor technical changes, the central bank now agrees with the cabinet decision to shift the 1,14 trillion baht debt, legacy of the 1997 financial crisis, to the BoT. There is no formal transfer, but the interest payments will be the responsibility of the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF). The 1,14 trillion baht debt consists of obligations from the FIDF, which was contracted at the time to support ailing banks and financial institutions.
– 2,27 trillion baht is needed over the next 10 years for investments in infrastructure. The Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRF), one of two committees set up by the government after the floods, cites this staggering amount. The committee's wish list includes new intercity train connections, four high-speed lines and expansion of public transport in Greater Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other urban areas.
The SCRF yesterday gave the green light to this plan plus plans for water management, increasing economic strength, developing new industries and economic sectors and strengthening the country's insurance sector. A total of 5 strategic investment plans, which will be presented to the cabinet on Tuesday.
– Five ministers today visited the special economic zone Dawei in Burma, which is being developed by Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD). The visit aims to gain the confidence of future investors, who have so far expressed doubts about the country's political stability.
The zone measures 250 square kilometers, 10 times the size of Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in Rayong. The planned deep-sea port will be 5 times the size of Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri. ITD aims to secure loans worth US$12,5 billion this year to finance the construction of a port and road, a railway and a coal-fired power plant with a capacity of 4.000 megawatts. Furthermore, an integrated steel plant, oil and gas company, petrochemical complex and a fertilizer plant are also planned.
– The small print, it did it again. They had queued for hours for a coupon worth 2000 baht to spend on energy-efficient electrical appliances. The government had made a good impression with this shower, intended for victims of the floods, in 28 provinces. But there was a catch. The coupons are worth 20 percent of the purchase amount, so the full discount only applies with a purchase of 10.000 bath.
And that is why angry residents in Ayutthaya went to the provincial government and blocked part of the Asian Highway. Also a day earlier, on Thursday, residents in Samut Sakhon blocked an intersection in Mahachai for the same reason.
– Six people died in a conflagration and seven were injured when a minivan drove into a truck on the border of Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao and the CNG (compressed natural gas) tanks of both vehicles caught fire. When police arrived, the driver of the van had fled. Five bodies were found in the van, a sixth person later died in hospital from his injuries.
– The Phetchaburi Provincial Court is hearing a case against the head of Kaeng Krachan National Park and four accomplices for the murder of Tatkamol Ob-om, former Karen rights advocate. Tatmakol had helped the Karen after their huts in the park were set on fire by park staff.
– The Truth for Reconciliation Commission proposes to the government to give the families of whom someone died in political violence between 2005 and 2010 an amount of 3 million baht. This requires 2 billion baht. The money can be taken from the 11,48 billion baht reconciliation fund formed by the previous government. There is still 3 billion baht in the fund.
– Tonight there will be little or no water from the tap in parts of Bangkok, because the Water Supply Company is carrying out maintenance work at the pumping station in Lumpini. The interruption lasts from 23 p.m. today until 4 a.m. tomorrow.
– The chairman of the Senate subcommittee on police affairs has called on the House of Representatives to lift the immunity of MP Khanchit Thapsuwan (Democrats) suspected of murder. He points out that the purpose of the immunity rule is to protect MPs against abuse of their political power and not against a criminal investigation. Khanchit is suspected of murdering a political rival at a petrol station in Samut Sakhon on December 25.
– Laos supports Thailand's plans to develop the Golden Triangle into a tourist area and to build three golf courses. Minister Yutthasak Sasiprasa (Defense) has reached agreement on this in Laos with his Laotian counterpart. Laos wants to hurry up with the golf courses, because next year the country will celebrate National Tourism Year. Before construction can begin, mines must first be cleared.
– The father of a 24-year-old engineer, killed by the Sakon Nakhon police at the end of December, does not trust the police investigation and has therefore asked the Crime Suppression Division to intervene. His son was shot dead during a hunt for drug traffickers. The police have stated that the son had 198 methamphetamine pills hidden in his underwear, but according to his older brother and girlfriend who witnessed the shooting, that was a lie. The CSD is investigating the matter.
– The Department of Special Investigation (the Thai FBI) starts a special investigation into foreigners, often gangsters, who run illegal businesses. They use Thai bosses to get around the Foreign Business Act of 1999. It stipulates that some industries may not be owned by foreigners or that the majority of shares must be owned by Thais. However, the law contains a loophole because it is not prohibited for foreigners to form a majority on the board of directors or have a majority of voting rights. According to the DSI, foreigners would run numerous businesses in Koh Samui and Phuket and other tourist provinces through this construction.
– The National Independent Rule of Law Commission is against the formation of an assembly of citizens in preparation for amending the constitution, as desired by ruling party Pheu Thai. She prefers a panel of 33 people 'concerned from all sides'. The committee fears that many members of the assembly will be ignorant or the assembly could be dominated by groups affiliated with the government. The committee already has 33 names.
– Article 112 (lese majesty) of the Criminal Code will not be changed. There was no difference of opinion on this yesterday at a lunch meeting of leaders and representatives of nine political parties devoted to national reconciliation. Recently, criticism has been leveled at the strict application of the article, which would restrict freedom of expression.